16194/5The latest saga in the ongoing battle against controversial new parking charges has "signed the death warrant for Wootton Bassett", according to fuming town mayor Chris Wannell.

The town's new mayor has said he is "disillusioned and disgusted" after hearing the recommendations contained within a report that has been leaked to the Gazette.

The report, which sets out the recommendations of the North Wiltshire District Council car park working group, will be presented to the executive for ratification on June 16.

Included within it is their recommendation that the district council-owned Borough Fields car park has charges imposed after the first two hours.

The recommendation has infuriated local councillors, traders and residents after a consultation period in which they fought against such charges until a comprehensive plan was drawn-up for the entire town.

Coun Wannell said: "This will drive people out of the Borough Fields car park and out onto the High Street instead where it's free. The town will lose its passing trade and people will instead just carry straight on through to Swindon."

He added: "What's the point of having an economic development plan if they're going to kill off the High Street. I think the whole thing is a complete sham, driven purely to get money for a cash strapped district council."

His feelings have been echoed by president of the town's chamber of commerce Brian Taylor. He said: "Many traders are running 'fragile' businesses and whilst there is not only uncertainty about the future parking, there is no comprehensive plan or complete package being recommended for the future.

"Until we have a comprehensive policy there is no way the district council should be allowed to kill our town by introducing restrictions in one car park only."

District and town councillor Peter Roberts was angered by the wording of the report that said that 'various respondents to the consultation exercise' had requested the proposed charges to be withdrawn.

He said: "It makes it sound like there were just a few complaints when in fact there were hundreds."

Member of the Wootton Bassett Business Association Alan Mole was one of several shopkeepers who posted notices in his window urging people to let the district council know their views on car parking. He said: "I posted in over 200 responses that people brought into the shop and that's just me alone. It's the most appalling disregard for public opinion."

Wootton Bassett working group member for the car park debate Stephen Walls acknowledged that the recommendation would not please everyone. He said: "We had a long long debate and there is a major concern because of Bassett's closeness to Swindon and the fact that the High Street is owned by the county council.

"This is a bit of a compromise but we can't form a comprehensive plan until we can sort something out with the county council. They say they can't do that until Autumn next year, but that's not quick enough for us."